John Grisham Holds the Number One Spot

John Grisham’s career as a writer has spanned over 20 years. Grisham has produced twenty-three novels since 1989, a short story collection, a non-fiction book, two children’s books, two screenplays numerous film adaptations and television adaptations from his novels, one of which will be airing on AXN, Global and NBC in 2012 (The Firm). It’s hard to believe that Grisham’s childhood dream was to be a professional baseball player. He also served seven years in the Mississippi State House of Representatives and worked long hours in a Southhaven, Mississippi law practice. Obviously, a great place to gather material for his many novels.

Not every novel Grisham has written is based on his legal background. Playing for Pizza (2007), billed as a “lighthearted story of football, food and love” by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, is a story of a former poor performing NFL player playing football in Italy. Not the best work of Grisham, in my opinion, but then, I prefer his legal thrillers. Despite the fact that I did not enjoy Playing for Pizza, John Grisham is still the best novelist in his field.

The Rainmaker (1995) struck a chord that holds it in the number one spot for me. Grisham was able to make me believe that Rudy, a young lawyer with no experience, could really win against corporate America. It’s David and Goliath in a courtroom setting. The twists and turns are something I still remember as if I read the book yesterday. I would read it again (and I have).

I never tire of the stories Grisham writes. Though it may seem to the outside observer that the legal plots are overdone, Grisham weaves his way through each story with a unique angle and characters that you feel like you know and sometimes are glad you don’t.

In July, Grisham’s The Confession won the 2011 Harper Lee Prize for legal fiction. I guess I must confess, I have not read The Confession yet. But I will put it on my list of must reads along with The Litigators scheduled for release on October 25, 2011. You should too.


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